The sound of The Primitives has remained remarkably consistent for nearly 40 years now. The Coventry-originating group -- now a trio of Tracy Tracy, Paul Court, and Tig Williams -- have never stopped producing glorious indie-pop of the kind that dozens of others wish they could easily emulate. But there's always been only one Primitives and the group's more recent material is surveyed on this superb new set from Elefant Records.
Let's Go Round Again: Second Wave Singles & Rarities 2011-2025 brings together so much good stuff that it's likely to provide a bit of a gentle shock to listeners at just how much the band behind Lovely (1988) and Pure (1989) put out in the last 14 years of a similar quality. "Don't Know Where to Start" indeed! That single and its flip-side (premiered here a few years ago) are both here, as is the lush and perfect "Turn Off the Moon" from 2012's Echoes and Rhymes. Those gems, along with "Rattle My Cage" and the lilting "Never Kill a Secret", both from 2011's Never Kill a Secret EP, are both sublime. You could almost believe both were leftovers from the band's seminal Eighties albums. Elsewhere, 2024's "I Won't Care" provides supreme pop pleasures. The combination of Tracy Tracy's layered vocals, the thumping Tig Williams drums, and the crunch of Paul Court's guitar conspire to make this one of the very best tracks this trio has offered up in years. The rest of the Never Kill A Secret EP is completed by the punchy "Need All The Help I Can Get" and "Breakaway", a more summer-y number. Similarly, most of the 2017 New Thrills EP is also here, with "I'll Trust the Wind" being a breezy classic on every listen.
Of the rarities here, "You Trashed My Christmas" almost makes this entire set worth it. That holiday ditty stands out next to a radio version of "Panic", and a symphonic go at "Sweet Sister Sorrow" at the end of the entire compilation. Let's Go Round Again: Second Wave Singles & Rarities 2011-2025 charms on an enormous level. It's understandable if fans think that the Primitives could never top Lovely and Pure, but this properly sequenced collection makes a case that maybe they can get very, very close to that goal indeed. This is all fantastic stuff, and this comp is one of the most enjoyable things I've listened to in weeks.
Let's Go Round Again: Second Wave Singles & Rarities 2011-2025 by The Primitives is out now via Elefant Records. Details below.
[Photo: Alison Wonderland]